A softcore starlet is murdered, and her lady lover sets up a revenge plot by finding a new starlet who looks just like her in Theodore Gershuny’s Sugar Cookies, a 1972 early Troma written by Lloyd Kaufman, and now on Blu-Ray via Troma Entertainment
The Film
Good ol’ Troma. It’s a studio I’ve often spoken of in my appreciation for their particular kind of trash absurdity. Sugar Cookies isn’t quite their normal fare, an early film before Troma was Troma, technically from another company. But Lloyd Kaufman wrote the script on his way up (or down, depending on how you look at it), and has been a part of their catalog for four decades. In that way, Sugar Cookies is an interesting curio of a filmmaker reaching to find where things would go. It also features two up-and-coming cult film stars in Lynn Lowry and Mary Woronov. And it was produced in part by some guy named Oliver Stone, whatever the hell he got up to later, I dunno.
The plot is a meandering one of murder and revenge. Max Pavell, played by George Shannon, is a sleazy adult film producer, on the edge of soft and hardcore, forces one of his ladies, Alta, played by Lynn Lowrey, to play a sort of russian roulette as a front to murder her. One of his girlfriends and a casting agent, Camila, who was also Alta’s girlfriend, played by Mary Woronov, is auditioning replacements when Julie Kent walks in, a copy of the dead Alta. Hiring her and making her into her girlfriend as well, they spend time hanging out, working on the films, hanging out some more, and doing sexy stuff.
Sugar Cookies is mostly a missed opportunity. There’s clearly a Vertigo sort of effect, but it just kinda lies there, with the film never really moving forward with any expediency. It’s weird, you’d think this would drive the film, drive the murdering pornographer crazy with the resemblance. That’s what it seems to be. But… nah. It’s honestly kinda boring, droning through several repeated scenes. The untapped potential is a frustrating idea.
It’s a bit of an excuse for nudity and semi-engaged sexuality. Whole sets of sequences of Lynn Lowry, Mary Woronov, or Lynn Lowry AND Mary Woronov nekkid (I think Lowry is topless more often than she is topfull) and hanging out, cooing, bathing, and/or making out. Maybe that flew better, came off more titillating in 1973, but it causes the film to land in a weird place. It’s an erotic thriller that’s not particularly erotic, nor notably thrilling, landing in a fuzzy zone of “what’s the rub?”
Additionally, there’s a subplot with the murderer’s nephew having to break out of his shell and getting into trouble that does absolutely nothing (per the special features, this was intended to be fleshed out).
I wish there were more to hang onto, since there is something here. Woronov and Lowry are both solid, especially Woronov with intensity. George Shannon is wonderfully sleezy. Sugar Cookies isn’t bad, no sir, but drawn in on the plot, the studio, and the names, one might expect more.
The Packaging
Troma puts Sugar Cookies on a single-disc Blu-ray, with the title and the gn image on the disc. It’s in a standard Blu-ray case with the simple box art on the single-sided sleeve.
The Presentation
The presentation, which seems to be (from my looking around) the same transfer from the 2014 Vinegar Syndrome release, looks good. VS does good work and makes even the worst earlier versions of 42nd Street look fantastic, and they do so here with the detail of the 70s seeping through with the color use and design. The sound is mono and a little flat, but it does the job. The disc plays the Toxie vs Russia short that has preceded all Troma discs
Starts with Toxie vs Russia short, that’s opened all Troma discs in the past few years before the menu. It autoplays the 7-minute introduction from Lloyd Kaufman before the movie.
The Features
Sugar Cookies was previously released by Vinegar Syndrome in 2014. As such, it contains all the features on that: the additional Lynn Lowry interview and everything from the 2004 Troma DVD, along with the package of additions on all modern Troma discs.
Introduction by Lloyd Kaufman (2004)
Kaufman gives a quick rundown of the creation of the film, his involvement, his history with Stone, and the flopping release back in the 70s (7m)
Making Sugar Cookies (2014)
Lowry gives a solid interview about her coming to this film, her history as a model, and the film’s reception. Forthcoming and interesting, she has a nice take on it all. (13m).
Lloyd Remembers (2004)
I’ve been clear how much I like listening to “Uncle Lloyd” chat, and boy, does he. He touches on everything from the intro with more depth. He gets very into the details of the film, his lifelong friendship with Oliver Stone (many great stories of their parents, and their continued relationship as they both entered the film world), the issues of the film’s release, and its life since then. (37m)
Lynn Lowry (2004)
At some Troma event, Lloyd interviews Lowry. She gives a quicker version of the above (4m)
Mary Wournov (2004)
At the same event, Lloyd interviews Woronov. Nice to have her insight on how this film fits into her long history of cult films. Wish she were on the disc more. (5m).
“Troma” trailer (198x)
Recut trailer from the 1980s once Troma for the rights (3m)
Original Trailer (1973)
An iffy original trailer. I can see why it didn’t do well. (2m)
Looking for Oliver Stone (2004)
Troma interns try to get an interview with Stone about his part in the film’s creation, as only they can do best (4m)
Troma JFK Assassination Theory
Continuing to run with Olive Stone, a Tromatic version of the JFK assassination (3m)
Tromatic extras
It also includes many of the extras also seen on the other Troma releases, like my recent reviews of #Shakespeare Shitstorm, Luther the Geek, and Frightmare including Seeing Red Music Video, Innards, Entombed, Troma trailers and more.
Final Thoughts
Sugar Cookies is an interesting early Kaufman/Troma. While I did find it duller than others (looking at other reviews found kinder words), it’s a nice look at a career on the way up. Troma/Vinegar Syndrome puts some good stuff together, especially in listening to Uncle Lloyd talk. Love the guy. Check it out to fill in Troma knowledge, and if you want plenty of Lynn Lowry and Mary Woronov bewbs.